Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, October 31st, 2024
the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
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Bible Commentaries
Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes Bullinger's Companion Notes
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliographical Information
Bullinger, Ethelbert William. "Commentary on 1 Samuel 28". "Bullinger's Companion bible Notes". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bul/1-samuel-28.html. 1909-1922.
Bullinger, Ethelbert William. "Commentary on 1 Samuel 28". "Bullinger's Companion bible Notes". https://www.studylight.org/
Whole Bible (44)Old Testament (1)Individual Books (1)
Verse 1
men . Hebrew. '. enosh. App-14 .
Verse 2
Surely = Therefore; which Achish repeats in his reply.
keeper of mine head : i.e. captain of my body-guard.
Verse 3
in Ramah , &c. Hebrew "in Ramah and in his own city". Figure of speech Hendiadys ( App-6 ) = in his own city, Ramah.
had familiar spirits . Familiar spirits are demons pretending to be dead persons; hence the word "necromancy". See notes on Leviticus 19:31 and Isaiah 8:19 .
wizards = wise, cunning, or knowing ones.
Verse 6
enquired = asked. Hebrew. sha'al, to ask. Not darash, "to seek out". See note on 1 Samuel 28:7 , and 1Ch 10:13 , 1 Chronicles 10:14 .
the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .
answered him not . Not likely therefore to answer now by a way He had forbidden. Samuel had been dead two years.
Urim. See note on Exodus 28:30 . Numbers 26:55 . It must have been an ephod of his own making, as Abiathar the High Priest was with David. Saul makes no mention of this in 1 Samuel 28:13 .
Verse 7
a woman . Answering to the modern "mediums".
hath = owneth, possesses as mistress. See note on Leviticus 19:31 .
enquire = seek out. Hebrew. darash, a deeper meaning than 1 Samuel 28:6 . See note above. Compare 1 Chronicles 10:13 , 1 Chronicles 10:14 .
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
Verse 8
by the familiar spirit . Hence called necromancy.
Verse 9
life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
Verse 11
up . Note: not down, or forth. Compare 1 Samuel 28:13 .
Verse 12
saw Samuel . Or, the materialisation of a deceiving spirit personating Samuel, as is done by "mediums" to-day.
she cried , &c. Evidently surprised, and getting more than she expected.
thou art Saul . How should she know this but by a communication from the spirit.
Verse 13
gods . Plural of Elohim. Either "a god "or a spirit manifestation.
out of the earth . Not down, or forth, as in John 11:43 , John 11:44 .
Verse 14
man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 . Not a spirit. mantle. If a spirit, why a mantle? Samuel's spirit was with God (Ecclesiastes 12:7 ). And if Samuel's body, it would be with "grave-clothes" (John 11:44 ).
perceived = understood: i.e. from what the medium said. He saw nothing.
stooped = did obeisance.
Verse 15
Samuel said : i.e. the spirit personating Samuel said. Just as it is done in the present day by the medium: never directly.
disquieted . If Samuel, then it shows he was "quiet" before.
me . Not my spirit.
God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .
no more . Therefore certainly not by means which He had expressly forbidden. See Leviticus 19:31 ; Leviticus 20:6 , Leviticus 20:27 . Deuteronomy 18:10 , Deuteronomy 18:13 , &c.
by prophets . Saul omits the reference to "Urim" because it would remind him of the murder of the priests (1 Samuel 22:18 , 1 Samuel 22:19 ). See note on 1 Samuel 28:6 .
Verse 16
Then said Samuel . Jehovah might have sent "a lying spirit", and given by it a true message, just as He did in 2 Chronicles 18:19-22 . Nothing was said but what was well known before.
become thine enemy . The Septuagint reads "and hath come to be with thy neighbour". Compare 1 Samuel 28:17 with 1 Samuel 15:28 .
Verse 17
as = according as.
by me = by my hand.
Verse 18
obeyedst not = hearkenedst not to.
wrath . Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the judgment in consequence of it.
Verse 19
with me : i.e. with the dead.
Verse 20
fell straightway = remained motionless. Compare Acts 9:7 , where "stood.
speechless = remained speechless. See Acts 26:14 . The two passages
together = fell, and remained so.
bread = food. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species). App-6 .
Verse 21
Behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
Verse 24
house = shed.